Veterinary Assistant at St. Louis Veterinary Center

Practice

St. Louis Veterinary Center is a full-service animal hospital that provides care for small animals and exotic companions. Our goal is to treat our clients like family. Our clinic prides itself on providing reliable and affordable pet health care services for our clients and their humans. We opened our doors in 1991 and have been serving the St. Louis communities for over 30 years!

More about the Role

More Than Your Typical Veterinary Assistant RoleAt St. Louis Veterinary Center, you'll have the opportunity to be part of a general practice that sees more than just dogs and cats. Our diverse caseload includes exotic companion animals, giving you exposure to a wider variety of patients, medical needs, and hands-on learning experiences than you may find in a traditional small-animal practice.We're looking for a dependable, compassionate Veterinary Assistant who enjoys working with animals, takes pride in supporting their medical care, and wants to continue developing their skills in a clinical setting.What makes this opportunity different?

• A diverse patient population: Work with both small-animal patients and exotic companions, broadening your experience beyond the typical dog-and-cat caseload.
• Hands-on clinical experience: Help support patient care, assist the veterinary team during appointments and procedures, and build confidence with essential clinical skills.
• Room to grow: Develop your knowledge of veterinary medicine while learning from veterinarians, RVTs, and other experienced team members.
• A collaborative environment: Be part of a team where communication, reliability, and working together are essential to providing quality patient care.
• A role that matters: Your work helps keep appointments, patient care, and daily hospital operations running smoothly.

We're looking for someone who is eager to learn, comfortable in a fast-paced veterinary environment, and committed to treating patients and clients with compassion. Previous veterinary experience is valuable, but the most important qualities are a strong work ethic, a willingness to learn, and a genuine interest in animal care.If you want to grow your veterinary skills while gaining exposure to a broader range of companion animals, St. Louis Veterinary Center offers an opportunity to build your experience and make a meaningful difference.

Competencies

• Patience & Compassion: Remaining professional while still making teammates, clients, and patients feel as comfortable as possible regardless of the situation or challenges presented. Responding quickly and calmly to crisis while maintaining a high standard of patient care.
• Collaboration & Teamwork: Carefully coordinating actions with veterinarians and practice team members. Providing feedback appropriately and in a timely manner. Quickly incorporating feedback to ensure positive results. Sharing ideas and being open to other’s ideas.
• Communicating: Conveying instructions to clients and teammates to ensure successful patient care.
• Active Listening: Following the instructions of veterinarians and sometimes patient owners. Picking up the needs of veterinarians and teammates based on prior experiences and feedback.
• Organization Skills: Clear tracking of lab specimens, medications, patient instructions, workflow, and other job-related items while managing multiple patients and clients.
• Client Satisfaction: Ensuring all activities and interactions result in the highest level of client satisfaction.

Essential Responsibilities

• Assist veterinarians in the practice of veterinary medicine and surgery and other tasks as needed.
• Assist veterinarians in outpatient exams by taking histories, vital signs, and weights, as well as providing client education.
• Prepare patients for surgery and monitor vital signs of the patient during surgery.
• Obtain blood, stool, and other samples; perform in-hospital laboratory testing and prepare specimens for outside laboratories.
• Take, develop, and maintain radiographs following proper safety procedures.
• Provide basic animal handling and restrain animals during exams.
• Administer and monitor medications, anesthesia, vaccines, and treatments at the discretion of the veterinarian.
• Clean and straighten exam rooms, treatment, and lab areas; restock exam rooms with supplies. Assist other team members to keep the public areas of the practice clean; clean and maintain all medical equipment.
• Demonstrate warmth, courtesy and professionalism in all interactions with clients; exercise compassion and care in all interactions with patients.
• Communicate with veterinarians and practice team members including client discussions, patient plans, client concerns, etc.
• Any other duties as assigned.

Requirements/Qualifications

• Ability to work on weekends as required
• Previous veterinary experience preferred
• Ability to lift patients and carry equipment up to 25 pounds; ability to lift patients or carry equipment over 25 pounds with assistance
• Practice OSHA safety techniques including proper PPE
• Basic math and the ability to calculate medication dosages
• Basic computer skills, familiarity with MS office applications, etc.
• Strong communication skills to ensure patient safety

Benefits Offered

• Paid time off
• Health insurance; dental insurance; vision insurance
• Retirement benefits or accounts
• Bonus incentive
• Flexible work schedules
• Career and professional development
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Referral Program

Benefits offered may vary depending on full or part time employment status according to company policy. 

Pay Range

USD $18.00 - USD $20.00 /Hr.